Crank-hanger for bicycles.



Patehed lune I2, I900.

W. F. HAWES. CRANK HANGER FOR BICYCLE S.

(Application filed-Mar. 22, 1897.)

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No. 651,662. Patented lune l2, I900. W. F. HAWES.

CRANK HANGER FOR BIGYGLES.

(Application filed Max. 22, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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'HUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILBER F. HAWES, DENVER, COLORADO.

CRANK-HANGER FOR BICYCLES.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters. Patent N 0. 651,662, dated June 12, 1900. Application filed March 22, 1897, Serial No. 625,694. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, WILBER F. HAWES, a

citizen-of the United States, and a resident of. Denver, Arapahoe county, State of 0010- rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Crank-Hangers for Bicycles; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to bicycles, and more especially to crank-hangers used in connection therewith; and the object of the same is to produce an improved hanger and bearing for the crank-shaft.

To this end the invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my preferred form of this improved bearing complete. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the two parts of the crank-shaft separated. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the adjustable dustcap ring. Fig. 5 is a detail of the adjustable cone. Fig. 6 is a detail of one form of the locking device and the dust-cap therefor. Fig. 7 is a detail of another form of locking device. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the position of the locking device and dust-cap of Fig. 6 in place.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter G designates the casing of the crank-hanger, such as usually comprises a part of the framework of an ordinary rear-driving safety-bicycle, which casing is hollow and cylindrical for the reception of the entire bearing parts. Within the casing is located concentrically the crank-shaft, which consists of the parts A and B, each of which is integrally connected with its crank S in a manner which will be clear and each of which is beveled at its inner end, so as to complement and make a close connection with the bevel of theother part. One of the parts, as A, is hollow,smooth, and tubular, and the other part, as B, has a smooth cylindrical integral projection B adapted to pass through the hollow part A and receive at its threaded extremity a nut M, as seen in Fig. 1. By this construction the two parts of the crank-shaft are detachably Into one end of the casing G is screwed or otherwise secured the ball-race or cone E, whose operative face stands outward and is preferably provided with openings K for the reception of a suitable spanner-wrench, by means of which it can be turned to proper position. It will be obvious, however, that thiscone E might be made integral with the casing G, entirely smooth, and set or pressed into position therein, as it is not intended for adjustment. Within the other end of said casing is screwed the adjustable ball-race or cone F, whose operative face also stands outward and is preferably provided with openings K for the reception of a suitablespannor-wrench, by means of which it can be turned, and the radial edge of this cone is also provided with recesses or grooves J, as seen in Fig. 3.

At a suitable point in the casing G is left an opening T, as seen in Fig. 8, through which the adjustable conemay be turned in either direction by means of a screw-driver or other suitable tool inserted therein and engaged with one of the grooves J. After properly turning this cone there isinserted within the opening T a hard-metal locking device I or P, according'to which style of dust-cap and ring is used. The form lettered Z, Fig. 7, is employed in connection with the ring H of Fig. 4. This locking device I has a projection i entering one of the grooves J, and its body is held in place by the ring H, which is preferably interiorly threaded, so as to screw on the exterior of the casing G, the entire body being sufficiently small to pass completely into the opening T. The locking device Pof Figs. 6 and 8 has a small projection 19 engag ing one of the grooves J; but its body is of such thickness that a hard-metal milled screwcap 0 is necessarily employed in connection therewith, this cap taking onto an exteriorlythreaded nozzle T, that surrounds the opening T, and having an interior centrally-disposed lug o with a rounded face bearing upon the back of the body P, so as to permit the portion of the other part A.

senses cap to be turned to throw its lug against the back of the device P, press it inward into position, and hold it there. It will be obvious that instead of milling the edges of the screwcap 0 the latter may be made angular, so as to receive a wrench. I consider either form of locking device an improvement over that shown in my previous patent, No. 581,395, issued April 27, 1897, for the reason that the projection in the present instance extends from the center of the face of the body, whereby the locking device may be inserted with either end to the right. Moreover, the peculiar formation of the screw-cap is such as to cause it to bear ever upon the back of the locking device opposite this projection, even while the cap is being rotated.

The letters 0 and D designate cups forming the outer walls of the races for the reception of the balls L, the latter being held in position by the well-known retaining-washers N, as seen in Fig. 1. To these cups are integrally attached the sleeves G and D, respectit'ely, which sleeves fit snugly around parts A and B of the crank-axle, with their inner ends cut off squarely and out of contact with each other, and are held in position thereon against longitudinal displacement by means of fixed shoulders (I. and b, formed on said parts A and B, as seen in Fig. 2. This construction accurately centers the sleeves upon the crank-shaft and holds the parts of the latter in exact alinement against the tendency of the bevels to disturb it, as Well as preventing the outer members or cups of the ball-races from spreading apart when the inner or conical members are adjusted outwardly.

\Vith the above construction the adj ustable cone F is set, the parts assembled, as seen in Fig. 1, and the nut M tightened to hold them in position when the balls are clamped with sufficient tightness in their races, and finally the locking device I or P is inserted in the opening T of the casing G and locked in place, so as to be dust-proof and so that it will hold the adj ustable cone F against retro grade movement. It will also be clear that when the bearings are taken apart for the purpose of cleaning them it will not be necessary to disturb the adjustment of the cones E and F, whereby when all parts of the bearing are reassembled the sleeves and the cups 0 and D will be forced inward to the same relative positions they previously occupied.

The letters Q designate the points to which the driving sprocket-wheel is attached, and this wheel is obviously removed with the lefthand crank.

When it is desired to separate the parts of the bearing, as for cleaning or repairing, the nut M is removed, after which the parts A and B of the shaft can be drawn longitudinally out of the crank-hanger, the projection B of the solid part sliding out of the hollow lVith each part of the shaft is also drawn out of the casing G its half 0 or D of the sleeve, together with the integral cups 0 or D and the series of balls L, which are retained therein by the retaining-washer N, and the casing G is exposed for through and through cleaning, while its cones E and F are also exposed for cleaning and without having their adjust ment interrupted. The removed parts can be further separated by slipping the sleeves oif of the parts A and B, if desired, and when they are placed thereon the fact that the in ner ends of the sleeves are cut off squarely and are never intended to contact or coact avoids the necessity of any exact relative arrangement of the sleeves with respect to their position around the parts of the crankshaft. It is only necessary that the outer ends of the sleeves shall abut against the shoulders at and b, and then the parts can be reassembled in a manner that will be clear.

It is evident that the two-part-sleeve ballrace cups, with the oiler and facing ball-race cones set in the crank-hanger casing, can be adapted to other methods of connecting the crankshafts, and it can be adapted to hubbearings for the wheels. Therefore I do not limit my invention to the specific construe tion herein shown and described, but contemplate the employment of the same in any connection in which its utility may be manifest. 1

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a bicycle, the combination with a crank hanger carrying outwardly facing cones; of a two-part crankshaft whose parts are struck on complementary bevels so that they shall interlock at theirmeeting ends, one part being tubular and the other having an integral projection passing through and fitting within the tubular portion and provided with a threaded extremity receivinga nut, a sleeve in two parts or sections with their ends entirely out of contact and closely surrounding and lapping the meeting bevels of the crankshaft, integral ball-race cups at the outer ends of the sleeve-sections and facing inwardly, and means for drawing these sections toward each other, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with a crank hanger, and two outwardly facing cones therein; of a two-part crank-shaft having shoulders on its parts and complementary bevels at their meeting ends, means for draw ing said parts adj ustably toward each other,

a two part sleeve closely surrounding the crank-shaft and its parts pressed inwardly by said shoulders, the inner ends of said parts being out of contact with each otherbut lapping the beveled ends of the parts of the crank shaft, ball-race cups carried by the parts of the sleeve and facing inwardly, and ball-retaining washers carried by said cups, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with a rotary member carrying ball-race cups, two series of balls therein, and a pair of cones for the balls, one of them being adjustable; of

an eXteriorly-threaded casing supporting the cones'and having an opening at a point adjacent the adjustable cone, the latter being provided with peripheral grooves, an exteriorly-threaded nozzle surrounding such opening, a locking device within said opening having a central projection engaging one of said grooves, and a screw-threaded cap fitting on said nozzle and having a centrally-disposed internal lug with a rounded face bearing upon the back of said locking device and closing the opening behind it, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a crank-hanger for bicycles, the combination with a tubular casing, outwardlyfacing cones therein, and means for adjusting one of them; of a two-part crank-shaft whereof onemember is tubular, has a beveled inner end, has an exterior shoulder near its outer end which end is integrally connected with its crank, and has means forthe attachment of the sprocket-wheel, and the other member has a body portion beveled at its inner end, an efiterior shoulder at its outer end, an integral crank beyond this shoulder, and a reduced portion at and concentric with the inner end of this body and of a size to pass through the tubular member and threaded at its outer end to receive a nut; a two-part sleeve whereof the members closely surround the connected crank-sections with their inner ends out of contact and lapping the beveled ends of the parts of the crank-shaft and their outer ends abutting against said shoulder, inwardly-facing ball-race cups integrally carried at the outer ends of the sleeve-sections, and two series of balls, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature on this the 11th day of March, A. D. 1897.

WILBER F. HAWES,

Witnesses: I

MARY HAMPTON LLOYD, JOHN S. GIBoNs, J AMES A. KILToN. 

